At 10:35 PM 9/7/96 -0700, you wrote:
>Bee-listers,
>
>I posted a message recently about finding a bee vacuum that would remove
>bees from difficult places and not pulverize the bees.
>
>Mike Griggs was kind enough to enlighten me on a system that he uses and
>some resources.  I have posted his messages to the list with his
>permission.
>
>If anyone has any more leads on a bee vacuum system, please post to the list.
>
>Paul Cronshaw DC
>Cyberchiro and Hobby Beekeeper
>Santa Barbara, CA
>
>------Original Message-----
>
>X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 09:59:48 -0400
>To: [log in to unmask] (Paul Cronshaw, D.C.)
>From: Mike Griggs <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Bee removal
>
>Paul,
>
>You are right that this is a bit hard on the bees.  soft nurse bees are
>often hurt.  The trade off is that this method does allow for a qick cvlean
>up of bees in areas that are hard to get to or to clean up the confusion in
>an otherwise difficult situation.  I try to use less intrusive methods when
>possile.  But here are a few tips to reduce insect deaths going into the
>vacuum capture box.
>
>I had to play around with strenghts of the vacuum so I could suck up bees
>without accelerating to the  point that they slam into the walls and get
>hurt.
>
>I also use a smooth hose to suck up the bees.  The corregated hose of the
>vacuum is to slow down particle impaction.  This causes the bees to bump
>and bang all the way to the trap.
>
>Finally I constructed a cloth trampoline for the bees to bouce onto rather
>than a wooden wall.  This is just a piece of thin streachy cloth that sill
>allows air through and provides a soft landing.
>
>Hope this helps  Mike
>
>***********
>
>X-Sender: [log in to unmask]
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 09:37:20 -0400
>To: [log in to unmask] (Paul Cronshaw, D.C.)
>From: Mike Griggs <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Bee removal
>
>Paul,
>
>Didn't get back to you sooner as I was preparing my truck for annual
>inspection.  After thirty years, the last eight with extreme salt, it took
>longer than expected.
>
>I have seen vacuum collection devise designs for many insects.  Some are
>powered by gas enjine,electric motor, or aspiration.  The emergence of the
>rechargable battery industry offers hope that a truly portable and
>efficient method will someday arrise.  Imagine a battery operated turbine
>that would provide enough power for say a leaf blower,  reverse the air
>flow to provide enough suction to collect bees in a collection container.
>Mobile, quiet, effficient and reusable.
>
>I currently use an old GE vacuum I pulled from the trash.  I was using an
>electrolux but my wife lectured me on the use of household utilities in
>barns.  It really doesn't take to much suction to collect bees.  One could
>regulate flow by providing a seondary intake orifice with adjustible size.
>by increasing the secondary hole the strength of thesuction at the
>collection port would be reduced.
>
>I have seen collector devises in either or both ABJ and Bee Culture.  The
>idea is not new, it is quite easy and effective one need only to devise a
>working soln from available sources.  With any operation the quicker the
>machinery the higher the chance to cause damage.  I often trade the
>increase in speed for slightly increase in loss.  I expect to loose some
>bees especially during a house removal.  I loose significantly fewer during
>a swarm capture.  The trampoline just decreases
>my losses.
>
>Post whatever you would like.  Perhaps you would have the time and
>initative to come up with a workable plan and post them up for all to see.
>Cheers
>
>Mike
>                                                .-~~~-.
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>                                    \.~~-.-~|     . -~_
>                 / \./  \/\        { O |  ` .-~.    ;  ~-.__
>              __{^\_ _}_   )  }/^\   ~--~/-|_\|   :   : .-~
>             /  /\_/^\._}_/  //  /     /   |  \~ - - ~
>            (  (__{(@)}\__}.//_/_____/_____|____\_______________
>             \__/{/(_)\_}  )\\ \\---------------------------------
>               (   (__)_)_/  )\ \> Mike Griggs [log in to unmask]
>                \__/\__/      Entomologist/Support Scientist
>
>               HTTP://www.ppru.cornell.edu/biocontrol/griggs.html
>
>Call Brushy MT Bee Farm 1-800-beeswax, they had one in their 1992 catalog,
I'm sur Steve cal tell where to get on e, If not I have one , Send me your
fax and I'll return diagram JRT